Vending-machine.



D K. CAMPBELL.

VENDlNG MACHINE.

APPLICAHON FILED MAY 11. m7.

Patented Apr. l6 1918.

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CAMPBELL. VENUWG MACHINE. mmcmuw mm NEAY U, 191].

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

D. K. CAMPBELL. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION men IAVII. I917.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

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x -w W m m y ,r J. ,w W h -21-- 1.1V... 1o 3 7 v w 7 w a a 4 m c I 2 6 2 H m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD K. CAMPBELL, 0F CHIunGO, ILLINOIS, ABBIGNOB OF ONE-FOURTH '10 OSCAR V.

PALMQUIST AND ONE-FOURTH 1'0 OSCAR W. JOHNSON, BOTH OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VENDING-MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application flied Kay 17, 1917. Serial No. 169,282.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DONALD K. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and (ate 5 of Illmois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vending- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to vending machines for vending newspapers and other similar articles, preferaly under the control of coin-controlled mechanism and my object is to rovide improvements in machines of this 'nd which shall render the machine simple and eco nomical of construction, requlre minimum economy in operating the same on a commercial basis, and be positive in operation, and generally to so improve u on machines of this kind as hitherto provi ed that they shall be better adapted to perform the funcjtlOIlS for which they are provided. Referring to the accompanying draw- %"igure 1 is a view in front elevation of a machlne constructed in accordance with my invention, certain rtions thereof being broken away to disc ose interior details, the parts of the machine being shown in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of certain arts of the mechanism which operate to c act the discharge of the papers, one at a time, from the machine.

Fi 3 is a broken view like Fig. 1, showing t e discharge mechanism in one, position it assumes during the operation thereof to discharge a paper. I

Fig. 4 is'a view like Fig. 3 showin parts of .this mechanism in the position t ey assume intermediate the position shown in Fig. 3 and the normal position to. which they return (Fig. 1). y

Fig. 5 is a broken section takenat the lme 5 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 6 is a section taken at the line 6 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, the parts of the apparatus being shown in the positions shown in Fig. 1.

"Fig. 7 is a view like 'Fig. 6 with the'upper pa of themachine broken away and showing the positions assumed by the parts shownin Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a section taken at the line 8 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 9, a. section taken at the line 9 on Fig. 1 an viewed in the direction of the arrow.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a casing 10 shown as formed of metal, but which may be of any other suitable material, this casing bein of general rectangular form, and preferab y of such dimensions that the paers to be vended and represented at 11 may e readily inserted therein, and it may be here stated that it is preferred that the easing be of such proportions that it will accommodate papers when folded once, or, in other words, in the condition in which they are generally delivered from the newspaper ofiices, and are exhibited in newspaper Stands. The front wall of the casing, re resented at 12, preferably has a forward y and downwardly-inclined section '18 co taining a slot 14 of a'length slightly greater than the width of the newspapers to be vended, and below this section 13 are trough-shaped members 15 ad'ustably supported on the bottom 16 of e casing 10,

as and for the purpose hereinafter described, these trou hs aifording upwardlyprojecting flanges 1 at their forward edges and upwardly-projecting flanges 18 at their rear edges, the flanges 18 servin as stop surfaces against which the papers 1 in flatwise abutting condition'as shown in Fi 6 are spring-pressed, as through the medium of a fo lower-board 19 which extends lengthwise of the casing 10 and is of sub stantiall the width of the papers 11, this board eing spring-pressed forwardly through the medium of a spring device 20 formed of a sprin -coil section 21 secured to the bottom 16 o the casinglO and having two arms, directed toward opposite ends of the casing, one only of these arms being shown and represented at 21', which press against the follower-board 19 at their lower ends and against the papers at their upper portions 22, thus exertmg a 'pressure against the papers tending to force loo em forward at" all times. The top of the casing 10, represented at 23, is preferabl hinged thereto, as represented at 24, an by preference is connected with mechanism whereby, u on lifting the top 23, the follower-board 1 1S automatically shifted to the rear of the easing to facilitate an. expt vFte the filling of the casing 10 with the papers to be vended. To this end each of the s ring-arms 21 has connected therewith a cab e 24, one only of which is shown, which extends around pulleys 25, 26 and 27 secured to the rear and front. walls of the casing and connected at their ends 28 with a lug 29 on the cover.

he arrangement is such, as will be manifest from the drawing, that when the lid 23 is raised the follower 19 will be automatically moved to the rear of the casing.

A description of the mechanism by which the papers are moved to discharge position, one at a time, is as follows:

The casing 10 is provided with a depending housing 30 in which the mechanism just referred to is located. This housing contains a stationary shaft 31, shown as a bolt, which is secured in the front and rear walls 32 and 33 of the housing. Rotatably supported on the shaft 31 are two blades 34 and 35, each of which is formed of a section 36 and a section 37. The. blades 34 and 35 are rotatably supported on the shaft 31 at the sections 36, this section of the blade 35 being deflected forwardly slightly, as indicated at 38, to compensate for the thickness of the metal of which these parts are formed, to cause the outer edges of the sections 36 to extend in the same vertical plane. The sections 37 are connected with the cooperating sections 36 through the me dium of spring hinges 39 which are so constructed and arranged that they tend normally to force the sections 37 rearwardly. The secti 36 of the blade 35 is provided with an e tension 40 at the opposite side of the shaft 31 which terminates in a bladesection 41 and an intermediate forwardly ofi'set portion 42 resenting a substantially arc-shaped shoul er 43, the front face of the blade-section 41 inclining rearwardly as represented at 44 toward the upper extremity of the blade-section 41, viewing the lat ter in the position shown in Fig. 2. The

section 37 of the blade 34 bears against the blade-section 41 in the rear thereof, under the action of its spring hin e and the section 37 of the blade 35 is he (1 to a limited rearward movement by stop lugs 35 on the section 36 of this blade engaging this section 37.

The outer extremities of the sections 37 are curved rearward! y as represented at 45, to provide the relatively pointed extremities 46 which lie in the same vertical plane, and preferably in substantially the same delivery znec vertical plane as the upper extremit of the blade-section 41, the pbrtion 46 o the blade 34 moving closely adjacent to the forward face of the blade-section 41, and thus in the rear of the forward edge of the shoulder 43 and the portion 44.

The members 34 and 35 are pivotall connected at their sections 36 with lin s 47 which are pivotally connected at their lower end with a pin 49 connected with a fingerpiece 50 that slides u and down in a slot 51 in the wall 52 o the housing 30, the rear end of this pin 49 being connected with the lower end of a coil-spring 52, the upper end of which is connected with the shaft 31, this spring serving to return the mechanism above described to the normalposition represented in Fig. 1 after actuation thereof to discharge a newspaper as hereinafter described.

The parts of the device in the normal position assume the positions shown in Fig. 1, in which position the blades 34 and 35 extend at their sections 37 across the forwardmost one of the papers 11 and serve to prevent the unauthorized withdrawal of a paper from the machine. In this position of the parts the member 40 is withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 1, namely, that wherein it extends below the plane in which the lowermost edges of the papers extend. Upon lowering the member 50 a ainst the action of the spring 52, the bla cs 34 and 35 are caused to swing upon the shaft 31 downwardly and awa from each other, and the member 40 is caused to swing upwardly, the positions assumed b these parts in the extreme lower position 0 the member 50 being that shown in Fig. 3. In this operation the uppermost portion of the bladesection 41 enters between the forwardmost one of the papers and the next one behind it, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7, and the curved portion 43 engages the lower ed e of the paper, forcing the latter upward y above the upper edges of the flanges 18 and slightly forwardly by reason of the offset portion 44, as shown in Fig. 7. Upon the operator releasing his pressure on the part 50, the sprin 52 returns these parts of the anism to the position shown in Fig. 1, and in moving to this position the points 46 of the sections 37 enter behind the forwardmost one of the papers practically while at its reatest height, and cam this paper forward y to a position in which it extends forward of the flan es 18 and may be readily withdrawn there rom by the operator, the members 34 and 35 in this movement to normal position thus moving across the face of the paper next to be delivered and thereby preventing its unauthorized removal.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the action of the mechanism generally stated is the projection upward! of the blade-section 41 between the. rst two papers, the lifting of the fiist or forward paper upwardly and, preferablyfits slight projection forward, beyond the uppcredges of the flanges 18, and the movement of the blades 34 and 35 to a position in which they extend across the front of ,the second pa er and in so moving preferabl force the rst paper farther in a forwar direction.

he trough members 15 are preferably made adi'ustable to permit them to be. moved forward y from the position shown in Fig. 6 for accommodating the machine to papers of greatemthickness. To this end the members 15 are provided with depending lugs 53 which are guidedly confined in slots 54 in the bottom late 16, these troughs also carrying de 11 ing lugs 55 moving in slots 56 and to w ich screws 57, having threaded engagement at their slot-equi ped ends 58 with openings 59 in the wal 32, are pivotally connected, whereby, upon adjustin these screws, the members 15 ma be move forward or backward, as desire The sections 37 are hinged to the sections 36 to permit these sections to yield forwardly in moving across the forward face of a paper, and are. of special importance in the case of the adjustment of the trough members 15 to a position forward of that shown in Fig. 6, the sections 37 yielding forwardly in'bearin against the front surfl nges 18, ut immediately springing back of the aper whichdirectly engages the to position in which their points he sub- 'stantially in the same vertical plane as the upper extremity of the ,blade-section 4-1, Egon the relative movement of these points to the forwardmost paper, out of engagement with each other.

The delivery mechanism above described is shown in the drawin as associated with coin-controlled mechanism whereby the delivery mechanism cannot be operated to deliver a paper until the proper coin has been deposited in the machine a description of this coincontrolled mec anism being as follows:

Located, to one side of the shaft 31, and adjacent the outer periphery of the member 65, is a stop lever 60 pivoted, as indicated at 61, to the housing and so constructedand arranged that it normally extends t its upper end 62, b reason of its weighted lower end, into t e path of movement of a shoulder 63 on the member 35 in moving from normal position (Fig. 1) to delivery position, and thus normally prevents the movementof the blades 34 and 35 to a position in which deliver may be effected. Located alongside of t e lever 60 is a coinchute 64 open at its upper end, at which it communicates with a slot inthe front wall 65 32 of the housin The side walls 65 and 66 of the coin-c ute extend short of the lower ends of the other opposed walls 67 and 68, the lower end of the lever 60 in the normal position of the parts projecting into this chute as represented in Fig. 1. The right-hand edges of the walls 67 and 68 in Fig. 4 are beveled, as indicated at 69, and located adjacent thereto is a spring-plate 70 secured to the wall 66 as at 71, this springmember in combination with the lever 60 and the walls 67 and 68 forming a constricted portion into which the coin, such as that represented at 72, drops upon being deposited into the chute 64, the weight of the coinso swinging the lever 60 to a position in which its upper end 62 is moved out of the path of the shoulder 63. The opening, however, provided between these several parts, when the lever 60 swin to the unlocking position stated, is not s ciently large to permit the coin to discharge from the chute, the discharge of the coin therefrom being effected by means of a spring-member 73 supported on the pin 74 secured to the housin and at its opposite end to the lower en of the spring-member 70, as indicated at 75, and extending t an inclinedly-disposed section 76 into the path of movement of the pin 49 in moving from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 8, which causes the member 70 to besprung to the OS XtlOII shown in Fig. 3 in which the coin 2 15 released from the chute and drops into the housing, the spring-member 70 returnmg to normal. position (Fig. 1) upon the as fully and completely as the prior state I of the art will permit.

What I claim as new and desire to secure b Letters Patent is--- 1. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storing an edge the articles to be vended and provided with an outlet, a member supported to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the article next' thereto, a member supported to be moved into engagement with the front surface of the last-referred-to article, and means-for actuating said members in opposite directions to cause said first-referred-to member to' be moved 'into said position and said other member to from the others and thereafter moving) said first-referred-to member to a position elow said articles nd the other of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a casin for storing on edge the articles to be ven ed and provided with an outlet, 9. rotatably-supported member adapted to be moved into a position between the for- Wardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto, a rotatably-supported member adapted to be moved into enga ement with the front surface of the last-re erredto article, and means for actuating said members to cause said first-referredto member to be moved into said position and sald other member to be out of enga ment with the articles for separating the orwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter moving said first-referred-to member to a position below said articles and the other of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered.

3. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storing on edge the articles to be vended and provided with an outlet, a cam member supported to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto and cam said forwardmost article forward, a member supported to be moved into engagement with the front surface of the article .next to said forwardmost article, and means for actuating said members in op osite d1- rections to cause said first-referre to member to be moved into said position and said other member to be out of enga ement with the articles for separating the orwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter moving said first-referred-to member to a position below said articles and the other of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered.

4. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storing on ed e the articles to be vended and provided wit an outlet, an abutment for the articles located adiaeent said outlet, means for forcin said artic es toward said abutment, and a p urality of means operating to alternaiely lift the forwardmost' one of said articles above said abutment, shift it forwardly and separate it from the others for delivery through said outlet said operatingmeans forming a barrier to the withdrawal of the others of said articles from said casing through said outlet.

5. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing fofstoring on edge the articles to be vendor: and 'rovided'with an outlet, an abutment for the articles located adjacent said outlet, means for forcing said articles toward said abutment, a member supported to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the articles next thereto, and adapted to raise the forwardmost one of said articles above said abutment and separate it from the others for delivery through said outlet, a member supported to be moved into engagement with the front surface of the artic e immediately in the rear of the forwardmost one thereof, and means for actuating said members to cause said first-referred-to member to be moved into said position and said other member to be out of engagement with the articles to efi'cct the separation of the forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter movin said last-referred-to member to a position elow said articles and the other of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered.

6. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storing on edge articles to be vended and provided with an outlet, an abutment for the articles located adjacent said outlet means for forcing said articles toward said abutment, a rotatably-supported member adapted to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto and lift the forwardmost one of said articles above said abutment and separate it from the others for delivery through said outlet, a rotatablysupported member adapted to be moved into enga ementwith the front surface of the artlc e immediately in the rear of the forwardmost one thereof, and means for actuating said members to cause said first-referred-to member to be moved into said position and said other member to be out of engagement with the articles to effect the separation of the forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter moving said last-referred-to member to a position below said article and the other of said mem bers across the front of the article next to be delivered.

7. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storing on edge articles to y be vended and provided with an outlet, an abutment for the articles located adjacent said outlet; means forforcingsaid articles toward said abutment, a member supported to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the, article next thereto, and adapted to raise the forwardmost one of said articles above said abutment and separate it from the others for delivery through said outlet, 9. member su ported tobe moved into engagement with t a front surface of the article immediately in the rearof the forwardmost one thereof, said last-named member being formed of relatively yieldable portions whereby this member may yield in a forward direction, and means for actuating said members to caus move actuating said first-referred-to member to be moved into said position and said other member to be out of engagement withthe articles to effect the separation of the forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter moving aid last-referred to member to a position below said articles and the other of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered.

8. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for stori on edge the articles to be vended and provided with an outlet, an abutment for the articles located adjacent said outlet, means for 0 said articles toward said abutment, a rotata ly-supported member adapted to be moved into a pos tion between the forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto and adapted to raise the forwardmost one of said articles above said abutment and separate it from the others for delivery through said outlet, a 1-0- tatabl supported mem r adapted to be into enga ment with the front sur face of the artic e immediately in the rear of the forwardmost one thereof, said lastnamed member being formed of relativelyv yieldable portions wh reby this member may yield in a forward direction, and means for said members to caiise said referred-to member to be moved into said position and said other member to be out of engagement with the articles to efiect the separation of the forwardmost one thereof from the other -and thereafter movin said last-referred-to member to a position low said articles and the other of said members across the front of the article next tobe delivered. K t

9. In a vending machine, the combination of a casin for storing on edge the articles to be ven ed and provided with an outlet, a member supported to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of sa d articles and the articlev next thereto, a pair "of members so ported to be moved into engagement wit the front surface of the 'last-referredwo article, and means for actusting said members to cause said ferred-to member to be moved into said position and said other members t? be out of aratmg the forwardmost one thereof from t e others and thereafter moving saidcfirsbreferredto \a member to a position below said articles and be others of said members across the front or "he article nextto be delivered.

10.'In a vendin machine, the combination of a casing. storing on edge the articles-to be vendeld and provided withan outlet 9 a rotatably-s'upported member adapted to moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto, a pair of rotatably-; supported members adapted to be moved .forwardmost one thereof, an

into engagement with the front surface of the last-referred-to article, and means for actuating said members to cause said firstreferred-to member to be moved into said position and said 0 her members to be out of enga ment wit the articles for wparating t e forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter moving said firstreferred-to member to a position below said articles and the others of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered.

11. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storingon edge articles to be vended and rovided with an outlet, an abutment for lie articles'located adjacent said outlet, means for forcing said artithe forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto, and adapted tb raise the forwardmost one of said articlesabove said abutment and force it over said abutment, a member so ported to be moved into en gement wit the front surface of the article immediately in th rear of the means for actuating said members to cause said firstreferredto member to be moved into said position and said other member to be out of cent with tlie articles to effect the separation of the forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter movin said las't'referred-to member toa position low said articles and the other of said members across the front of the, article nextto be delivered.

12. In a vending machine, the combination of a for storing on e the articles to be vended and rovid with an outlet, a member sup 0 te'be moved into a position between t forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto and force the forwardmosl: one"of said forwardly, a member so ported to be moved into enga'gementiw'ith t e front surface of the one of the articles immediately in the outlet, an abutment for the articles located adjacent said outlet and adapted to be adjusted into varying positions, means for rear ofsaid forwardmost article,.and me ce to iforcing said articles toward said abutment, and means 0 crating to lift the articles one at a time a ove said abutment and eifect the delivery of the articles from the casing.

14. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing or storing on edge the articles to be vended and provided with an outlet, an abutment for the articles located adjacent said outlet and adapted to be adjusted into varying positions, means for forcing said articles toward said abutment, and a plurality of means operating to alternately lift the forwardmost one of said articles above said abutment and separate it from the others for delivery through said outlet said operating means forming a barrier to the withdrawal of the others of said articles from said casing through said out- 15. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storing on edge the articlcs to be vended and rovided with an outlet, an abutment for t e articles located adjacent said outlet and adjustable into different positions, means for forcing said articles toward said abutment, a member adapted to be moved into a osition between the forwardmost one of said articles and, the article next thereto and lift the forward most article above said abutment, B IllGIIlber adapted to be moved into engagement with the front surface of the article immediately in the rear oithe forwardmost one thereof, said last-referred-to member being formed of relativel flexible portions adapted to yield in a forward direction, and means for actuating said members to cause said first-referred-to member to be moved into said position, and said other member to be out of engagement with the articles for separating the forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter movin said first-referred-to member to a position elow said articles and the other of said members acrpss the front of the article next to be delivered.

-16. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for ticles to be vended and provided with an outlet, a member supported to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto, a member supported to be moved into engagement with the front surface of the last-referred-to article, said members being movable in substantially parallel lanes, and means for actuating said mem ers in opposite directions to cause said firstreferredto member to be moved into said position and said of engagement with the articles for senarating the forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter moving said firstreferred-to number to a position below said storing on edge the arother member to be out 1 ,aeaosa articles and the other of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered.

17. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storing on edge articles to be vended and provided with an outlet, a member supported to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto, said member being provided with a oamming surface for camming the forwardmost article forwardly and having a stop surface adapted to engage the lower ed e of the article and lift the latter, a secon member supported to be m ved into enga ement with the front sur ace of the artic e immediately in the rear of the forwardmost one thereof following the said camming and lifting operation, and means for actuating said members to cause said first-referred-to member to be moved into said position and said other member to be out of engagement with the articles to effect the separation of the forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter moving said last-referred-to member to a position below said articles and the other of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered.

18. In a vending machine, the combina' tion oia casing provided with a removable closure, members in the casing between which the articles to be vended extend, one of said members being in the form of a follower supported in said casing independently of said closure in all positions of the latter and movable therein toward and awe from the other of said members,'means ten ing to move the follower toward said other member, and means operated b said removable closure constructed an arranged to retract the follower upon the act of opening the closure and permit the follower to move toward said other member upon the movement of said closure toclosed position;

19. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing for storing on edge the articlcs to be vended and provided with an outlet, a member supported to be moved into a position between the forwardmost one of said articles and the article next thereto,- a member supported to be moved in a plane substantially parallel with that in which said first-referred-to member moves,

the last-referred-to article, and means fur actuating said members in op osite directions to cause said first-referre to member to be moved into said position and said othermember to be out of engagement with the articles for separating the forwardmost one thereof from the others and thereafter mov ing said fi st-referred-to member toa position belorv said articles and the other of said members across the front of the article next to be delivered,

and into engagement with the front surface oft 20. In a vending machine, the combina tion of a casing provided with a removable closure, members in the casing between which the articles to be vended extend, one of said members being in the form of a follower supported in the casing independently of said closure in all positions of the latter, to move in a substantially horizontal plane toward and away from the other of said members, means tending to move the follower toward said other member, and means operated by said removable closure constructed and arran ed to retract the follower upon t-he act 0 opening the closure and permit the follower to move toward said other member upon the movement of said closure to closed position.

DONALD K CAMPBELL. 

